Officials: Prostitution at high school an isolated incident

Wednesday

Jun 5, 2013 at 12:01 AMJun 5, 2013 at 9:58 AM

McClatchy News Service

GREENSBORO — Police and school officials said Tuesday that three students at Grimsley High will face juvenile charges and school discipline in connection with an incident in which sex was exchanged for money.

The incident occurred last month on campus during the students’ lunch period, officials said.

“We’re talking $20 and three students that made really bad decisions,” said Cynthia Robbins Shah-Khan, director of communications for Guilford County Schools.

One male and two females were arrested May 1. They were charged as juveniles with solicitation, prostitution and abetting prostitution, although police would not say who was charged with which offense.

All three were younger than 16.

The exact ages of the students and their grade at school were not released. Susan Danielsen, spokeswoman for the Greensboro Police Department, said police did not want to give information that might identify the students.

The Guilford County District Attorney’s Office said the charges are misdemeanors.

A Grimsley High school resource officer learned of the incident involving the three students at 4:10 p.m. May 1, the day it happened. Neither police nor school officials would say how the officer learned of the incident.

The incident happened at 12:10 p.m. in a school building at Grimsley.

Police said only money was exchanged.

Police and school officials said there have been no other offenses of this kind reported in the school system.

“This is an isolated incident with students,” Shah-Khan said. “As a school district, we have acted on it and disciplined them.”

Shah-Khan said the incident at Grimsley High falls under Rule 4 in the school system’s policies and procedures. The offense involves inappropriate or lewd interpersonal behavior.

The policy reads that personal and social relationships will be conducted

“according to acceptable community standards. Inappropriate public displays of affection as determined by the principal will not be allowed. Lewd, illegal or sexual gestures or acts, even if consensual, will result in consequences.”

According to the policy, penalties range from in-school suspension to long-term suspension.